A winter ride around a frozen lake

Today was my birthday and with my buddy Pat Benson, I celebrated it with a nice brisk ride around Stony Creek Lake. The temperature was 23 degrees.

As a tractor equipped with a rotating brush cleared snow from the frozen lake in front of the boat launch for an ice skating and outdoor hockey rink, we bunded up and circled the lake on the perimeter road. The road was snow and ice free and with a bright sun and very light wind, our extra layers of clothing and baclavas kept us warm and – come the finish – almost sweaty.

It was my first outdoor ride since the New Year’s Day Flying Rhinos event in Clarkston and my knee surgery on Jan. 28th.

I wasn’t sure how the knee would handle the hills. And Pat was coming back from a hospital stay because of an infection. So both of us approached today’s ride with a gingerly caution.  But we both felt strong and probably could have done a couple more loops. No matter how you cut it, riding indoors on a trainer is no substitute for outside.

The knee felt fine and I pronounced myself officially back to normal after today’s outdoor ride.

I also can’t wait now for the outside season to reliably be underway. But even with the cold, today’s ride convinced me that winter doesn’t necessarily have to restrict me to indoor riding.

Alas, though, snow and ice will. And we’re forecast to get 10 inches of snow tomorrow.

Spring, though, is definitely coming.